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VBAC Options in Northeast Pa

2K views 18 replies 7 participants last post by  wjey 
#1 ·
Hi, i'm new to this thread.

I would also like to find out some good, friendly midwives/doctors (obyns, etc) who are open to VBAC births and not repeat cesareans, who actually encourage a more natural birth, even if you have had a c-section, even for your first pregnancy.

I had a c-section just about 8 months ago, and i am not pregnant atm (since i am being extremely safe and waiting the whole 15 months like all the books say).

If anyone can give me some hospitals and doctors/cnm's, i would be very greatful.

I delivered via c-section at Giesinger WB. I am looking at hospitals in my area, such as Wayne Memorial and St Luke's. I do not ever want to deliver at Giesinger or General, and speaking of the latter one, i don't because since they did get that court order against a woman who didn't agree to a c-section and went onto another hospital and delivered successfully (and with a 11 pound baby of all things!) and i find that really scary and truly unbelievable that a hospital has that kind of power.

I am just trying to get some information ahead of time, that way i am not searching when i finding conceive again.

I will try to use my insurance coverage first, though at this time, i don't think it covers home birth/direct entry midwives, which is something i really was excited about and i learned quite about it.
 
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#3 ·
Is Reading reasonably close to you? There's a birth center there that would probably meet your needs.
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I'm not sure if they do VBACs at the center itself (or if you'd want that) but it sounds like they also have the option of attending a birth at a hospital (so you would still have midwife care).

The birth center I used was like that too, but I think I'm too far south for that to be feasible.
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#4 ·
thanks for the bumping.

And i would definitely consider a place that does support vbacs, as my post says.

I am looking for information in advance before i have anymore babies, and it's not safe right now, i am only 8 months postpartum from a c-section (which i do wish i didn't agree to, but it happened).

These are some places i'm considering..

The Reading Birth Center (if my insurance will cover a birth center)

Wayne Memorial (Allentown)

Women's Specialties (Allentown)

Seasons of Life Obgyn (Allentown)

Pocono Medical Center

Lehigh Valley Hospital

St Lukes (Allentown)
 
#5 ·
I think being prepared ahead of time and knowing what you want is VERY important. When I was pregnant with my second child my doctor said they supported vbacs but when it came time, they didn't. They tried to force a repeat csection on me as soon as I hit 39 weeks. I fought them until I went into labor at almost 41 weeks but eventually asked for a new doctor while in labor because they were so against it.

I ended up with a successful vbac after one of the doctors from Seasons of Life stepped in. She was amazing. I can't recommend her enough. I was at St Luke's in Allentown. In general, the nurses and staff there were very vbac friendly. They fought so hard to help me be successful and I wouldn't have been without them. I was more comfortable delivering in a hospital and as far as I'm concerned Seasons of Life and St Luke's do an awesome job. PM me if you want any more details.
 
#7 ·
I am worried too that when the time comes, that if i don't go into labor naturally, and if they do try and schedule me for induction or a repeat cs, that i will either get backlash or will then have to find a whole other doctor. I just want a physian/midwife, whatever, to be vbac supportive and not be a flake at the last minute..
 
#8 ·
I would ask a lot of questions early on and get real answers. I asked some questions early, got ok answers but by the time I pushed for more information (like how many successful vbacs they'd had in the last year) it was closer to the end of my pregnancy and I felt stuck. Also find out about all the doctors in the practice. One in mine was more comfortable with vbacs but he wasn't the one on call at the time.
 
#9 ·
The Reading Birth center was FABULOUS! I just had a successful VBAC there four weeks ago. The midwives were phenomenol. I gave birth in the Reading Hospital. The nurses there were also helpful! My labor was quick but I ended up not even having an IV
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Also, they helped me find some natural options which I greatly believed helped labor progress on its own. I was also fearful of another induction...
 
#11 ·
I don't believe so. You can have a home birth and then they visit you in your home afterwards I believe... I'm pretty sure all the regular checks are in office. And unfortunately after having a csection the only option is in the hospital... I hope that makes sense! Let me know if you have any more questions!
 
#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by gypsyqueen91 View Post

I had a c-section just about 8 months ago, and i am not pregnant atm (since i am being extremely safe and waiting the whole 15 months like all the books say).
Hi gypsy & welcome to MDC.
:greet


I just wanted to ask about this and the answer isn't for me. When I had my first child, a vaginal delivery, I asked my midwives how long I should wait before becoming pregnant again & they said 2 years. I am not sure what books you are speaking of but where breastfeeding is the norm, babies are typically born every 3-4 years apart. That's not the case in the Western world, for a variety of reasons. So, you may want to look further into this "recommendation." The birth section of this forum may have more information for you. I'd also be interested to hear what books said this, but it's strictly out of curiosity so don't go too far out of your way for it.
:wink


I hope you have found the information you've been looking for. I believe a woman I use to be friends with used the Reading Birth Center & was happy with it. That was more than four years ago & I've lost touch with her.

Best wishes,

Sus
 
#15 ·
Well personally i see benefits of not waiting not too long between births/children, so they can grow up together in about the same pace. I know sometimes it's really on how you feel and maybe you want to wait until they are older than 1 or maybe even 5 years old. But i definetly want (at least) two kids before i am 30.
 
#17 ·
When I was pregnant with #2, I had this same question. I actually ended up going with Valley Birthplace, which is probably far for you (it was an hour for us). But we had attended a VBAC class at St. Luke's (it was a good sign to me that they had a class, at least VBACs were not out of the question for them). I also met with an obstetrician who delivered there and I asked alot of questions about what would happen if I showed up there for a VBAC. One of the obstetricians basically said that if you walk in as a VBAC and don't disclose it, they won't necessarily know the difference (I believe there was something to the effect as well that many women come in having had no prior prenatal provider and not speaking English, so there would be no records and very little they could do as far as finding out information in those cases, so VBACS are often done without the hospital's foreknowledge anyway). AND I can attest to this story, kind of (though not at St. Lukes - I was at Grandview, where VBACs are not done to my knowledge). Baby #3 came for us quicker than expected and we couldn't go through with our midwife/hospital VBAC plans (baby wanted a toilet birth, but we didn't go that route!). Anyway, when I got to the hospital pushing, it was nonstop questioning so that they could fill out my paperwork and I tried to be nice and oblige (yes, in labor while pushing), but when they asked me directly about having prior surgery, I stopped answering questions. Not that I'd advise this being your first plan, as it certainly wasn't ours, but if you get desperate or need a plan B, there is that. Oh, and the on duty pediatrician did yell at me the next day for doing it that way, but I was caught off guard and didn't fight back.
 
#18 ·
Well.. telling them you didn't have a c-section when you did, could go horribly wrong IF something happened.. like the a placenta problem or something else..

But if i was so close to having the baby like you did, i would try and have it my way.. and another question, if they don't know about your history.. what kind of doctors/nurses are they? lol
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by gypsyqueen91 View Post

Well.. telling them you didn't have a c-section when you did, could go horribly wrong IF something happened.. like the a placenta problem or something else..

But if i was so close to having the baby like you did, i would try and have it my way.. and another question, if they don't know about your history.. what kind of doctors/nurses are they? lol
Of course you shouldn't lie and say that you haven't had a c-section if you did, but omitting the fact that you did is a different story, especially when nothing is actually wrong, and especially in the face of the danger of being forced to have a repeat c-section. Have you researched the VBAC risks? I haven't in about four years, but they are really not as high as perceived. Ridiculously low, in fact, for all the hype. I was little overly obsessed with researching it with my second child because there was no way I was going to go through a c-section again.

And the doctors and nurses would have no knowledge of your medical history if you just walked into the hospital unannounced I walked into the hospital at midnight and had my baby a half hour later. The midwife that was supposed to catch was an hour away from us and did not have my medical records at home, so even though the hospital spoke to her in that short period, she couldn't really give them my history. I'm not talking about doctors or nurses who you've been working with you throughout your pregnancy, I just mean that if you end up walking into the hospital when you never meant to be there (or at that hospital, anyway), the doctors and nurses there would have no way to know your history.
 
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